Why John Denver’s Music Is In So Many Movies This Year

Why John Denver’s Music Is In So Many Movies This Year

If you’ve seen a glut of movies in 2017, there’s a good chance you heard a John Denver song in at least one of them. And while it may seem like a giant coincidence that movies from Alien: Covenant to Okja and Logan Lucky to Kingsman 2 all used a John Denver song this year, there is some method to the madness, and namely it comes in the form of one Brian L. Schwartz. But who is that, you may ask?

Brian L. Schwartz is behind 7S Management, which has managed John Denver’s estate since 2010. Over the last few years 7S, which includes Schwartz and his business partner Amy Abrams, have been strategizing to get more of John Denver’s music into the popular realm. The two didn’t even stand out as obvious choices for the gig at the beginning, according to Yahoo, as their business is more about managing bands than estates. But they were hired by John Denver’s children because they had intriguing ideas about how to get Denver’s music back into the public consciousness, and that included pitching Denver’s stuff when movie studios were looking for tracks from that era.

Still, they were hired over seven years ago, so what took so long for John Denver to be, well, everywhere? Per Brian L. Schwartz, his team helped the Denver estate to switch publishing partners, and those labors are now bearing fruit. He said,

In this position, you always have to be thinking ahead of the curve, and be aggressive and active. It takes a while to plant the seeds before you see them grow, and that’s what we’re seeing now. We really wanted to see an increase in the licensing for film and TV, and we do monthly calls with them and come up with creative ideas. Kobalt knows what movies, commercials, and TV shows are being made and require music and are actively pitching when appropriate.

Interestingly, John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” has been used to very memorable effect this year in both Logan Lucky and Kingsman: The Golden Circle. In the former movie–and we’re about to get into minor spoilers–Channing Tatum’s character, Jimmy Logan, makes it to his daughter’s pageant, just in time for her to bolt out the lyrics to his favorite song and get the whole auditorium singing along. Kingsman 2 also uses the song during a big moment, as the lyrics serve as a distraction for some bad guys and a rousing final act for one of the film’s major characters.

As for Alien: Covenant and Okja, the former also uses a version of “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and the latter uses “Annie’s Song.” The circumstances in Okja were a little different because they were a result of Bong Joon-Ho really wanting the track in his Netflix movie, and getting it. But counting it all, there are four big movies harkening back to John Denver this year, and that’s not including Denver’s music appearing in stuff like Free Fire and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul. I gotta say, I don’t hate it. To see what movies will or won’t feature John Denver in the coming months, take a look at our full premiere schedule.

Colin Firths Wife Reveals She Had An Affair With Couples Alleged Stalker

Actor Colin Firth’s wife, Livia Giuggioli, an Italian movie producer and director, has confirmed she had an affair with the man she’s now accusing of stalking her and her husband.

The Firths, who’ve been together for over two decades, apparently separated for a short while a couple years back. During this time, Giuggioli began an affair with lifelongfriend and journalist Marco Brancaccia, who has launched a “frightening campaign of harassment” against the pair, who have since gotten back together, the couple’s representative said Friday.

“For obvious reasons, the Firths have never had any desire to make this matter public. A few years ago Colin and Livia privately made the decision to separate. During that time Livia briefly became involved with former friend Mr. Brancaccia. The Firths have since reunited,” a representative for the actor told HuffPost Friday in a statement.

“Subsequently, Mr. Brancaccia carried out a frightening campaign of harassment over several months, much of which is documented,” the statement continued. “As a consequence of his stalking, threats and refusal to desist, the legal complaint was lodged with the Italian authorities.”

The couple is based in London, but the Firths also have a home in Umbria, Italy.

Brancaccia, who works for the ANSA news agency, is now the subject of an Italian police investigation. He has denied the allegations and accused Giuggioli of fabricating the stalking claims to cover up the affair, which he says occurred between 2015 and 2016.

“We were romantically involved, she wanted to leave Colin for me,” he said in a statement to The Times published Friday morning. He added that the couple’s marriage had “been over for years.”

Brancaccia went on to claim that he only sent two WhatsApp messages to Giuggioli, as well as an email detailing the affair to Firth, who he describes as “understanding.”

“In a year she sent me hundreds of messages of love, photos and videos, even a diary,” he added.

Firth and Giuggioli share two children together Luca, 16 and Matteo, 15. The Oscar-winner also has another son, from a previous marriage to actress Meg Tilly.

Joaquin Phoenix is reportedly eyeing the role of the Joker in a new 80s-set origins tale from The Hangover director Todd Phillips.

According to sources at Variety, the Oscar-nominated actor was the top choice for the role with some stating that he has already signed on but Warner Bros has not yet provided confirmation. Phillips will co-write and direct the film. He is rumored to have met with Phoenix in 2017 and is waiting for studio approval.

The film will explore the characters time in Gotham as he becomes a supervillain. It will be produced by Martin Scorsese and the tone has been likened more to a gritty crime drama than one of DCs recent entries.

It will exist in a separate timeline from the one in DCs pre-established cinematic universe which included Suicide Squad, where Jared Leto plays the Joker. He is set to reprise the role in a sequel as well as a spin-off film centered around his relationship with Harley Quinn.

There had been rumors that Leonardo DiCaprio would take on the role but the plan fell through. Phoenix has previously passed on playing both Lex Luthor in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and the titular role of Doctor Strange.

Ive flirted with several of those films, having meetings and getting close, but ultimately it never felt like theyd really be fulfilling, Phoenix told Time Out in 2015. There were too many requirements that went against my instincts for character. Ive been spoiled. Ive never had to make those compromises. Ive not met a director yet with one of those films where we go through the script, they say: You know what, fuck this set-piece, lets focus on the character! I understand, but its best I dont do it.

This year will see him star alongside Rooney Mara in biblical drama Mary Magdalene and Gus Van Sants new drama He Wont Get Far On Foot, which premiered at Sundance in January.

Game of Thrones creators to write and produce new set of Star Wars films

Game of Thrones creators to write and produce new set of Star Wars films

David Benioff and DB Weiss take charge of films separate from the pre-existing franchise and Rian Johnsons previously announced trilogy

Guardian staff

Tue 6 Feb 2018 16.11EST Last modified on Tue 6 Feb 2018 16.20EST

DB Weiss and David Benioff. The pair will act as writers and producers of the trilogy. Photograph: FilmMagic/FilmMagic for HBOGame of Thrones creators David Benioff and DB Weiss will pilot a new Star Wars trilogy.

The announcement was made on the official site on Tuesday. The films will exist separately from the existing series and the recently announced trilogy to be made by Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson.

David and Dan are some of the best storytellers working today, said Kathleen Kennedy, Lucasfilm president. Their command of complex characters, depth of story and richness of mythology will break new ground and boldly push Star Wars in ways I find incredibly exciting.

The pair will act as writers and producers of the trilogy.

In the summer of 1977 we traveled to a galaxy far, far away, and weve been dreaming of it ever since, Benioff and Weiss said in a joint statement. We are honored by the opportunity, a little terrified by the responsibility, and so excited to get started as soon as the final season of Game of Thrones is complete.

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Watch the trailer for Solo: A Star Wars Story

The films will be added to the long list of upcoming Star Wars adventures yet to be released. Last year saw success for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which made over $1.3bn at the international box office. Earlier this week the trailer for Ron Howards Solo: A Star Wars Story was released. The prequel will be released this May. Rumors also persist of an Obi-Wan Kenobi movie in the works with Billy Elliot director Stephen Daldry in talks to direct.

In December 2019, Star Wars: Episode IX will bring Force Awakens director JJ Abrams back to the fold and Rian Johnsons recently announced trilogy will follow.

Im just in the very beginning of starting to come up with what the new trilogy is going to be, he said at a press event in Mexico. What makes me so excited about it, is the idea of doing a new story on the big canvas of three movies in this world. Theres just so much potential and I cant wait to jump into it.

The next season of Game of Thrones will be the last and will premiere in April 2019. The pair had been linked to HBOs controversial slavery drama Confederate but after a backlash, it was reported last year that the pair are not actively working on it at the moment.